CLIVE TULLY checks out a superb award-winning lightweight tent that, by chance, Clive Garrett has chosen to use for a backpacking holiday along Hadrian’s Wall. So, Camping’s two Clives pool their thoughts on this little marvel...

When someone comes out with a two-berth tent that tips the scales at a mere kilo, it’s tempting to wonder what they’ve skimped on. Surely something has to be missing at that kind of weight, you might think. But no, slip Vaude’s Power Lizard Ultralight out of its stuff sack, and everything is there. Admittedly the eight titanium skewers are a little shorter and thinner than average (supplemented for my backpacking trip with alloy/titanium V-shaped. CG), and the poles are just 7.5mm. But get the tent pitched – a quick and easy job – and you realise you have a decent-sized double-skinned shelter. Good for two, and palatial for one (good job my wife, Tricia, is small. Two blokes my size would find this tent a tad snug for multi-night backpacks. CG).

It’s supported by a hoop across the middle, with short uprights at each end (note: unlike the pictures in the Vaude catalogue and website, these poles actually slope out around 30° from the bottom – as per our picture above. CG), with the flysheet material a very lightweight (just 20 denier) ripstop polyamide siliconised on both sides – so highly repellent to both water and dirt. As hot air taping does not work on this type of fabric most manufacturers leave you to dope the seams. But here Vaude uses its Cold Seam Taping Technology – a very big plus.

The main hoop utilises Vaude’s very effective Powerframe system of locking the tent to the pole, where clips hold the fly in place, each with an extra locking clip which ties it all together and improves stability when the wind gets up. A tension cord that follows the pole on the inside of the outer tent aids the clips.

The tent has a single side entry, with porch that runs the whole length of the side, half of which is out of the way. (Space enough for two 50/60-litre rucksacks and boots. CG)

The two sidewall guy lines come with fixed loops rather than sliders, but I improved on nature by re-tying the lines with sliding hitches (Backpacking Tip, Camping, January 2010). (You may find that the small diameter of the cord makes this knot hard to adjust – especially in cold weather. I am using Camcleat Line-Loks.

Condensation is often a problem when using a small tent. And, given the many and varied conditions that influence its formation, it is a problem hard to address. The Lizard appears to have better than average ventilation for this style of tent and the durable water repellent finish to the inner non-mesh fabric effectively prevents any drops of condensation entering the sleeping compartment. The groundsheet is a laminated construction to keep weight down. This has also proved to be unaffected by formic acid sprayed by ants, unlike PU-coated polyester that degrades. CG)

Verdict I’m sure there will be a lot of adventure racers out there who will snap up the Power Lizard, but I think it’s also destined to become a favourite amongst backpackers keen on saving weight and pack space without any compromise on that all-important liveability.


MORE INFORMATION

Size 230cm x 115cm x 95cm high
Packed size 10cm x 35cm
Materials Outer Both sides silicone-coated 20D polyamide ripstop, 3,000mm hydrostatic head  Inner 15D polyester, fine mesh
Groundsheet PU-laminated polyamide ripstop, 10,000mm hydrostatic head
Poles AL7001 T6 Featherlite 7.5mm
Expect to pay £350.00

Sleeps 2
Packed weight 1kg
Pitching time 3 minutes
Style Hoop


CONTACT

Vaude
Tel 01665 510660 for stockists Web www.vaude.co.uk


This review was published in the August 2010 issue of Camping magazine. Order our latest issue.